Chapter 07 - Blanket Warrior
Only inches stood between the moment on the clock when I had left Camerons and the rising of the sun. Ill planned, our tour down memory lane cost me my alertness this morning. Hoping to counteract the comradery, I poured twice the typical amount of coffee grounds into my stainless steel french press. Although a momentary relief, exhaustion would hunt for me this afternoon, striking when the caffeine had stepped off stage.
I placed a fair amount of effort on the act of freshening up, hopefully aiding in my request to stay with Lee during these next few days. She had so easily taken me in once, why not a second time. Regardless of its circumference, I would need a plan. I would spend the canoe ride out in the Deep Pines devising the gory little details for how to ask such a favor.
My mind changed slides, focusing on Sails urgency. He had been a poor friend to trust, using my act of confiding for his own benefit. It wouldn’t be long until he would realize that I was not showing up to work this morning. I imagined a mixed storm of emotions surrounding him. Anger that I hadn’t listened, regret on not taking me in himself, and potentially joy that I would possibly get away from all of this.
I packed a small bag of essentials that told of the short but necessary stay I wanted. The creaking of my front door opening brought with it beams of adolescent sunlight. My wrist watch glowed six forty as I acknowledged the unknown truth that I knew not when I’d return. A quick walk in silence led me to Caroline for my trip out to the Deep Pines.
The scripting of the scene to come projected into my thoughts. What little scraps of emotion would join the act of her being surprised. I knew not to super impose my excitement, blended with two parts eagerness, onto how she would take me. I would have to bring up the necklace, a gift so quickly lost. It seemed fair that understanding would wash away any disappointment once the reason was known.
I had been subjected to a spectrum of feelings within the last few days, whittling down any chance to second guess myself. I thought of Lee and I knew I liked her. We’ve met once, on an odd stage, but there was a warmth to her that awoke something real and lost within me. The years continued to lap my pursuit of Carmine, and with each pass my weathered bones could not place any difference in the weather. I’ve been stuck, land locked with eyes stretched out over the horizon. Lee resembled a forgotten bridge, tangled in overgrown vines that tightened around the ropes that it was composed of.
I hastened the speed of my ore into the glossy surface below, catching a reflection of my new outlook, envisioning myself crossing such a bridge to a new chapter. Knowing full well that once I reached the other side I would surely burn the crossing out of existence. Only I must survive this time.
My mind drifted back to the scene that was to unfold. Every ounce of me craved for romance to be the upcoming plot twist. Great banter can be the catalyst of great romance.
I glanced up at my surroundings to identify where exactly Caroline and I found ourselves. A low mist lay in the air, gripping hard to the evergreen trees that scattered the water. Silence surrounded me, like echoes lost with the faint sway of a lit candle wick. Dancing without rhythm to the control of chemical reactions from within. A muse to some, the flicker of light represents a constant, an expectation from an action. I had yet to learn such a lesson. The rise and fall of the soft amber light swirling off of NightLight’s headquarters made itself known in the unreachable distance.
I stopped rowing momentarily to allow my muscles a break. A gentle breaking of the water’s surface, causing subtle ripples to fold out of place, could be heard in the distance.
Another bystander found themselves out in the Deep Pines this morning. A friend, my initial unfiltered reaction screamed, someone who could relate to my tireless efforts away from the shoreline. Unlikely I told myself. Probability instead favored some henchmen following my scent, making sure that I made it to my work station before lunch.
UNKNOWN: Atmos, I promptly request you release each ore from your hands.”
The voice pierced the blue hued mist with a familiar shard held on its existence. An abrupt but dominant guest awaited me.
ATMOS: Who goes there?
I held my ore as a weapon as the oscillations in water grew closer. No response was given as an immaculate and decadent canoe absorbed itself into view.
UNKNOWN: I come to you with haste.
The uncovering of the well dressed man entered the frame. Through confusion I became defensive.
ATMOS: You’ve come a long way from Conifer Cove.
I kept my responses simple, I had yet to flush out a motive.
WELL DRESSED MAN: I insist you stop with such small talk. I am only out in these swampy settings for a brief moment, traveling out to the shoreline for business.
At this point the full image of this man came to be seen. Upholding his reputation in style, he was adorned in a black sailor suit, surely accompanied by a golden pine cone necklace.
ATMOS: What would you like to discuss in the little time you claim to have.
WELL DRESSED MAN: Well it is a rather odd proposition at best, unfortunately I do not think I have a say in the matter.
ATMOS: Yeah and why’s that?
WELL DRESSED MAN: Atmos, all of what you consider yours around you at the moment is being gambled. Recklessly by those that you will never meet. You have the ability, through chance, to twist a knife in the stomach of your choosing. I am simply here to make sure you choose wisely.
ATMOS: And why do I get such responsibility?
WELL DRESSED MAN: My goal is not flattery, your actions have caused your required responsibility. In a day or twos time, I’ll approach you again with answers. I need you to accept the call to action, trusting me. A concept I fully understand may never happen. But you must, for all of our sake.
ATMOS: At least you have your expectations set, why on earth would I trust you?
WELL DRESSED MAN: Because I know what it is you want. It is simple really, slightly desperate. Yet I do understand you. You yearn to be finished with searching.
His response brought confusion.
ATMOS: I don’t know what you mean.
WELL DRESSED MAN: Until sometime quite soon. If you find yourself unable to do what I strongly request, ask your new friend if she trusts me.
We held eyes momentarily, I noticed his hands precisely turning levers to maneuver himself back to where he came from. He neglected to use Lee’s name, a missing puzzle piece that caused delay in my comprehension.
ATMOS: Hey wait! Don’t you leave on me, how do you know about Lee and I?
My voice resembled a child's, yelling at a parent who left without providing the adolescent answer. It proved no use, his canoe disappeared as he had surely planned, leaving a wake of questions behind. I needed to understand how he knew my whereabouts and that I intended to meet Lee. Each hidden detail more recent than the other. All of a sudden I felt exposed out in the calm waters of the Deep Pines, surrounded by shades of green lost in the low hanging mist.
I longed to be nestled next to Lee’s flame.
I placed importance on my swift arrival to Lee’s little slice of heaven, rowing through the howling of my muscles. The aged cedar wood, carved past exhaustion to create Lee’s radio tower could be faintly seen in the distance. It stood proud as a relic that parented the waters, mimicking its host in endurance. I could not locate Lee, scurrying about the misty land mass like a mouse at midnight. My encounter with the well dressed man had derailed any dedication devising a plan for how I could gain access to lodging here tonight. Doubt doubled down all of its chips onto spontaneity, the moment alone would be all I would need.
I steered Caroline into the first empty dock I saw and left the overnight bag in the vessel, it would grow assumptions regarding my intentions before I would even be able to speak. I decided to try for the workshop once more, no music littered the misty air the second time through, but the location felt less intrusive than showing up per say in her bedroom.
I sat with my thoughts on where else my heroin would be hiding, not knowing the full extent of her hideaway. Curiosity lead me further inland, noticing a cluster of small buildings that had gone unnoticed prior. I glanced upon the screams of dim lit light echoing from a warm structure to my immediate left. I kept the courtesy to knock and awaited the sound of footsteps to greet me. None noticed the queue, leading to a louder, full body knock.
LEE: I’m not expecting company!
The response shot out into the air looking for an intruder to identify.
ATMOS: It’s me Atmos, I don’t mean to alarm you.
The footsteps now appeared, walking slowly to the barrier between us. I heard a handful of latches change direction, following a large audible click. The door swung open to reveal Lee, her hair tangled in a mess with a glow absent from her eyes.
ATMOS: Hiya, I’m a bit early for a second visit I know, but I have a reason.
She held no desire to my prompt, pre-occupied by thoughts present before my arrival.
LEE: Atmos. Let’s talk about this some other time, okay?
My slight desperation metabolized into worry as I noticed a coldness coming from her.
ATMOS: Lee, what’s troubling you?
LEE: Atmos. I mean it, you caught me at a bad time. Let’s try again another night.
ATMOS: Lee, you don’t have to be a legend around me. Even if I were a complete stranger, I would still ask what’s got you stuck.
The last word out of my mouth had hit some visual queue in her head, she turned back and began to sigh. I followed her inside, allowing the room to illuminate more hidden clues towards this mystery. I noticed her diver suit tossed in the corner, without an ounce of care and with what would look like blood covered over most parts.
ATMOS: Lee, who’s blood is on your suit?
She whipped around with anger.
LEE: I don’t remember inviting you in Atmos, who’s blood is on my suit, who are you to decide the questions tonight.
ATMOS: I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s none of my business and I should leave.
Defeat rang out to the community of my thoughts, I would need another plan soon. It felt selfish but I wanted her to know that she wasn’t the only one drenched in trouble.
ATMOS: Lee, I came here tonight because I’m also in trouble. Maybe right now it’s something we have in common.
She smirked.
LEE: Alright Atmos, you have my permission to decide a few questions tonight.
I began to see the existence of embers within her eyes, newly extinguished by whatever occurred earlier. She continued on.
LEE: I have had the worst day. Worse than I knew possible. You and me, maybe this moment of you barging in on me guns blazing, asking me to be way too personal with you. Maybe this is the choice I’ve been given to be able to move on. You get three questions for now. What in the devil do you want to know.
Slight joy grew inside of me.
ATMOS: What has you so upset tonight?
LEE: Smart move, start with a generalized question. Quite the worthy opponent. I am upset because tonight I failed to save someone, out in the Deep Pines. It’s only happened once before. A long time ago. It happened in the blink of an eye, being out in the Misty Meadow never fails to bring trouble. The area is typically empty, it is far too dangerous for most and I can’t come up with the slightest reason why he would be out there. But I couldn’t save him, I came inches from a different fate. The current swept him up and out of existence.
ATMOS: Lee, I am so sorry. I’m sure you did everything you could.
LEE: I didn’t do enough, isn’t it obvious?
ATMOS: You’re not responsible for everyone’s well being who clumsily fumbles about in the Deep Pines.
LEE: It’s always been that way, why change now?
ATMOS: Because one day you’ll need to save yourself, don’t you see that?
LEE: You answered my question with a question. I’m docking points from you.
ATMOS: Lee, I need your help tonight. I want to do the same for you, will you help me?
LEE: Fond of questions, three already asked to be exact. But worthy they were.
She finally smiled.
LEE: Looks like we’ll help each other out then.
ATMOS: I would like that very much Lee.
LEE: I didn’t think it would be as hard as it became, I hadn’t known how gargantuan the shoes that I were to fill.
I took the momentum and injected action.
ATMOS: How about we get you cleaned up and devise a plan. A plan so helpful, it will be bigger than whatever shoes you are talking about.
Her teeth peered through her mouth.
LEE: Right then! Let’s get to work. Crank that stereo to the fullest.
We started by carrying the scene of the crime outside and hosing the suit off. Lee scrubbed each crevice clean with a wash cloth while I rifled through an extensive CD collection to decide the melodic aroma. My hands flipped over each case until I saw it. An album I held dear to my heart in adolescence, The Verve’s Urban Hymns. I hit play and was provided with the bluntness that Lee trained in.
LEE: A rather somber choice for an audience that might have it in them to dance.
ATMOS: Once we get to track three, I promise you’ll be rocking out. Besides shouldn't you only own music you want to listen to.
LEE: I’ll follow your lead Maestro Atmos.
ATMOS: Now Lee that might just be the best decision you’ve made all evening.
The music helped lift the spirits in the air, allowing silence through intent ears that distracted our worried emotions. The clock kept up while we performed task after task with Lee’s guidance. She was graceful in her ability to move on, showing subtle moments now and then that conveyed regret with care, but her demeanor slowly transformed to her natural self. The CD player flashed the track count, indicating the end of our journey.
LEE: That’s quite enough tidy work, thank you handsomely for your help.
ATMOS: I’m glad that I intruded when I did.
I smiled at the gleaming truth in the statement.
—---------- INSERT TRANSITION —------------
LEE: Me too Atmos, care for a small bonfire to celebrate?
ATMOS: That sounds divine Lee.
Our next activity required no preparation, a pile of split wood lay next to a large hand carved bench. As Lee lit the fire, I found myself brave to learn more about her pain.
ATMOS: Lee, what did you mean when you said you had big shoes to fill?
LEE: Now I’m going to be the one to make things somber. I need to be able to trust you as we move inward a circle, any thoughts on why I should?
ATMOS: Hmmm. I suppose we’re still strangers in a way, living lives filled with murky characters that we shouldn’t trust.
LEE: Maybe don’t lead with your strangers and trust no one bit, just some pleasant feedback.
ATMOS: Right. Well I’m not one of those people. In fact I am such the opposite that if you put me in a line up with every untrustable individual, I’d be the only one smiling.
LEE: Maybe stick to making sense, please.
ATMOS: Right again. Lee there is something about you. Something that has nothing to do with your role as a legend that I badly want to know more of. That I want to explore. It didn’t strike my mind that I should venture out to anyone else to talk through this predicament of mine besides you. I don’t know why.
LEE: That is flattering to say, and refreshing. I’ve always wanted to be just a person, not a legend.
ATMOS: I’d love to hear more about it, honest.
LEE: Okay okay Atmos, tonight we can exchange trust. I would like that too, I don’t know if I’d love to, you might be coming on a tad too strong with that word. She winked.
ATMOS: It’s all apart of my charm, it’s an acquired taste.
She laughed and then looked down, preparing to share herself with someone who was becoming more than a stranger.
LEE: I’m not the only legend with the name Lee. My father, his name was also Lee. He was the Lee that people scream from the hill tops here. The only reason he chose such a fate in the first place was because of what happened to my mother. The Deep Pines was still a very dangerous place before the incident and the contamination that followed. The two of them were out one evening when a storm stranded them. After they didn’t return that night, my father told me to stay put here while he went out and searched for them. They were never found and my father took his pain and dedicated himself to helping save others lost out in the pines. I was young at the time so naturally I went with him for most of his rescues. A decade would go by and I got pretty good at all the ins and outs he showed me, I was his apprentice in a way. All of this was leading up to February 17th, the night we went out during a rather nasty thunderstorm. It all happened so fast Atmos. He died that night, and it was my fault. Some loose knot of mine he thought would have been tighter, should have been tighter. After I got back here, I didn’t do anything for weeks. I cried and howled but eventually I picked myself up, as he did, and continued his legend in his honor. Making sure to keep my mask on, whenever venturing out. I hadn’t factored in your peeping eyes into that equation.
ATMOS: Lee, thank you for telling me. It means more than you know.
She looked down with relief and immediate regret.
LEE: I suppose if I’m being honest within the moment, I just crave to be a part of something. Somehow it feels like my calling. I know we still have to get to your troubles, but can we call it a night. The guest house has fresh linens and is ready to welcome you into a slumber.
ATMOS: Of course Lee, my troubles also include how I lost, moreso broke the necklace you so kindly provide me with. I swear I have a reason as big as this fire. Speaking of which, I’ll begin to put out.
She stood up and poured out a canister of water that had been laying next to her feet on the flames.
LEE: That’s my job silly.
She began to walk way but turned around slowly.
LEE: Thanks for listening Atmos.
I let the moment sit with me before entering the guest quarters. I hopped into bed, noticing that my eyes were beginning to lose in their fight against drowsiness. The front door creaked open, it was Lee.
LEE: You know the strangest thing happened. I spilled my night time tea on my blanket. Now the only blanket left is the one on your bed, care to share?
I stared at her and noticed the pile of clean linens stacked next to the door.
ATMOS: The last blanket on earth, I’d be willing to share such a relic.
Subtle smiles lit both of our faces as she gently tucked herself into bed next to me. We both lay side by side facing up, when a curious hand grabbed mine, fingers slow to interlace. Nothing was said, no further advancements took the battlefield, but we both slept beautifully that night.